Scalper and cut-off attachment for feed mills



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,675

G. J. PRESTEMON SCALPER AND CUT-OFF ATTACHMENT FOR FEED MILLS Filed Jan.11 1926' fm enfor 6. JPres fame/2 Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SCALPER AND CUT-OFF ATTACHMENT FOR FEED MILLS.

Application filed January 11, 1926.

My invention has for its object to provide a scalper and cut-oftattachment for feed mills, and to this end consists of the novel devicesand combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention mounted on the hopper of afeed mill, some parts being broken away and sectioned; and

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

The attachment is adapted to be mounted on the hopper 8 of a feed mill.For the purpose of this case it is not thought necessary to illustratethe feed mill more than its hopper for the reason that the actionthereof is well known and may be of any commercial form.

Referring now in detail to the invention, the numeral 8 indicates avertically elongated casing that is square in cross section and open atits upper and lower ends. This casing 4 is mounted on the upper edge ofthe hopper 3 and forms a vertical extension thereof and may be securedin position in any suitable manner. A segmental cover member 5 closesthe upper end of the casing 1 and has at one side a hopper 6, the bottomof which comprises a sliding plate 7 and a hinged bottom plate 8 indiverging relation. The lower horizontal edge of the sliding plate 7 isspaced from the hinged plate 8 to afford a feed opening 7, the

size of which may be varied, at will, by adjusting said sliding plate.The bottom plate 8 is hinged at its top, and its lower horizontal edgeportion extends below the feed opening 7 and said plate is adjustablyheld by a hand screw 9. Grain is gravity-fed into the hopper 6 from anoverhead storage tank, not shown, through a spout 10, the lower end ofwhich extends through the top of the hop per 6.

Mounted to rotate in the upper end of the casing 1 and its cover member5 is a cylindrical scalping screen 11, the axis of which extendsparallel to the feed opening 7 Grain in the hopper 6 is deliveredthrough Serial No. 80,453.

the feed opening 7 onto the upwardly moving side of the scalping screen11 and all sticks, straws and similar foreign matter will be carriedupward over said screen, and precipitated onto an inclined apron 12mounted in theback of the casing 24 and extending outward therefrom.- Astrip of leather 13 or other flexible material is secured to the upperedge of the apron 12 and rubs on the periphery of the rotating screen 11to remove any foreign material that may adhere thereto.

The scalping screen 11 is driven by a belt 1d that runs over a largepulley 15 on the shaft of said screen and a relatively small pulley 16on a shaft 17 journaled in bearings on one side of the casing 4 near thebottom thereof. On the front end of the shaft 17 is a large pulley 18over which runs a driving belt, not shown. The pulley 16 is loose on theshaft 17 and to connect the same thereto, at will, for rotationtherewith there is provided a clutch 19, one member of which is formedwith said pulley and the other member of which is slidably mounted oniilhe shaft 17 and keyed for rotation therewit To automatically set andrelease the clutch 19 and to start and stop the rotation of the screen11 there is formed in the front of the casing 4 below the scalpingscreen 11 a door opening in which is mounted a door 20 hinged at itslower edge to said casing for outward swinging movement. On the verticaledges of the door 20 are inwardly projecting segmental wings 21 thatwork close to the sides of the casing 1 at its door opening and formtight joints to prevent the es cape of grain through the casing 4 whenthe door 20 is open, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

Secured to the door 20 and projecting rearwardly therefrom on'one sideof the casing 41 is a horizontal arm 22 on which aslidable weight 23 ismounted and held in different longitudinal adjustment-s by a set screw24. The purpose of the weight 23 is to move the door 20 from an open toa closed position and yieldingly hold the same closed.

For operating the sliding member of the clutch 19 there is provided avertically disposed shipper lever 25, the upper end of which is pivotedto the casing l. A link 26 connects the door to the shipper lever 25,and one end of said link is attached to a bar 27 secured to andextending transversely of the door 20, and the other end portion thereof loosely extends through an eye bolt or similar member 28 SWlVGlEtl tothe shipper lever just above the clutch 19. A pair of opposing nuts 29,having screw-threaded engagement with the link 26, engages oppositefaces of the eye bolt 28 and connects said link to the shipper lever 25in diiferent longitudinal adjustments.

A stop on the top of the door 20 is ar ranged to engage the casing 4 andlimits the closing movement of said door, and stops 31 on the rear uppercorners of the side Wings 21 are arranged to engage the-casing l andlimit the opening or outward swinging movement of the door 20. In theback of the casing l below the scalping screen 11 is swinging door 82that affords access to the interior of said casing.

The operating of the scalper and cut-oft attachment for feed mills maybe briefly described as follows:

The pulley 18 may be driven from a movable part of the feed mill or froman independent source of pow-er. Grain delivered into the hopper G bythe spout 10 is fed through the feed opening? and onto the pe riphery ofthe scalping screen 11 on its upwardly moving surface. The grain willpass through this scalping screen and be precipitated through the casing4t into the hopper 3 to the feed mill. All foreign matter such assticks, straws and the like Will be carried upward on the rotatingscalping screen 11 and over the same and be deposited on the apron 12Which carries the same away from the feed mill. In case any of thisforeign matter should adhere to the periphery of the scalping screen 11the same will be removed by the fle ble strip During the normaloperation of the feed mill the door 20 will remain closed. in case thegrain is delivered to the feed mill faster than it can be ground thesame will pile up in the casing a, and the pressure thereof will openthe door 20 against the action of the weight 23 and release the clutch19 through the shipper lever 25 and connecting link 26 and thereby stopthe rotation of the scalping screen 11 and prevent further flow of grainfrom the hopper 6 until suilicient grain piled up in the casing l haspassed through the feed mill to reduce the bulk thereof and the pressureon the door 20. When the pressure of the grain on the door 20 has beenreleased, the door Will again be closed by the Weight 23, and as thedoor is thus closed the link 26, acting on the shipper lever 25, willagain set Learners the clutch and start the rotation of the scalpiigscreen.

It will be noted that the hinged bottom plate 8 extends obliquely to oneof the radial lines of the scalping screen 11 and by means of the handscrew 9 the lovver horizontal edge of said plate may be adjusted towardor from the periphery of said screen.

From the above description it is evident that the action of the abovedescribed attachment is entirely automatic to regulate the feeding ofthe grain to the feed mill and hence prevent the same from clogging.

What I claim is:

l. A cut-oh"; attachment for feed mills comprising a casing applicableto such a mill, a screen mountd in the casing, means for deliveringgrain to said screen, driving connections for operating said screenincluding a clutch, and automatic means arranged to be operated bypressure of the grain piled up in the casing below said screen forreleasing the clutch and stopping the feeding action of said screen.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in Which said automatic means isalso adapted to set the clutch vvhen said pressure has been released bythe removal of the grain.

3. A cut-off attachment for feed mills comprising a casing applicable tosuch a mill, a rotatable cylindrical screen mounted in the casing, ahopper having a feed opening arranged to deliver grain to said screen,means for delivering grain into the hopper, driving connections foroperating said screen including a clutch, and automatic means arrangedto be operated by pressure of grain piled up in the casing, below saidscreen, for releasing the clutch to stop the feeding action of saidscreen and for setting the clutch When said pressure has been releasedby the removal of the grain.

l. The structure defined in claim 3 in further combination with astripper operative on said screen.

5. A cut off attachment for feed mills comprising a casing applicable tosuch a mill, a screen mounted in the casing, means for deliverin grainto said screen, driving connections ror operating said screen includinga clutch, said casing having a door opening below said screen, anoutwardly swinging door mounted in said door opening, yielding means forclosing the door, and a connection operated by the opening of he door bypressure of grain piled up in the casing below said screen for releasingthe clutch to stop the feeding action of said. Screen and for settingthe clutch when said pressure has been released by the removal of thegrain.

6. A cut-off attachment for feed mills comprising a casing applicable tosuch a mill, a screen mounted in the casing, means for delivering grainto said sore-en, driving connections for operating said screen includinga clutch, said casing having a door opening below said screen, anoutwardly swinging door mounted in said door opening, yield- 5 ing meansfor closing the door, a shipper lever for operating the clutch, and alink from the door to the shipper lever whereby the opening movement ofthe door by a pressure of grain piled up in the casing below said screenwill release the clutch and stop 10 the feeding action of said screenand for setting the clutch when said pressure has been released by theremoval of the grain. In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

GILMAN J. PRESTEMON.

